Problem guide
How to protect sockets and back boxes when plastering
Keep wet plaster out of socket and switch openings, and know what to do if a back box has already been covered or contaminated before second fix.
Step by step
A practical installation overview
- 01
Make the electrical position safe first
Before plastering starts, make sure the relevant electrical work is in a safe condition for the task. Isolate and prove dead where required, and have electrical work completed by a competent person.
- 02
Secure the cable or terminated connection
Do not leave loose conductors where they can be buried in wet plaster. Keep the cable or correctly terminated connection secured within the prepared box or opening.
- 03
Cover the opening before the skim
Fit the correct single- or double-gang socket bead over the back box. The closed centre gives the plasterer a surface to work across and helps keep wet plaster out of the opening.
- 04
Fix the flange flat
Keep the bead centred and the outer flange flat to the board or background. A stable edge is easier to skim to and reduces movement while the finish is applied.
- 05
Let the plaster cure before opening it
Leave the protected centre in place while the plaster sets. Removing it too early can disturb the edge and create unnecessary making good around the socket or switch.
- 06
Reveal the opening carefully
Once the finish has cured, tap the centre to expose the cut line and remove it with the recommended cutting method, keeping the blade and cutting action away from cables.
- 07
If plaster has already got into the box
Do not dig around cables or connections while the circuit may be live. Have the circuit isolated and the position made safe first, then clear loose material carefully or ask an electrician to inspect any contaminated or damaged accessory before it is put back into service.
See it demonstrated
